Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
1
TITLE
HANDGUN HOLSTER WITH A CATCH MEANS IN THE TRIGGER GUARD AREA
DESCRIPTION
Field of the invention
The present invention refers in general to the field of firearms accessories.
More
precisely, the object of the invention is a handgun holster provided with a
new catch
system in the trigger guard area.
Background of the invention
A problem considered by the present applicant concerns systems for making the
positioning of the handgun firm in the holster, possibly in holsters
configured for
housing handguns equipped with a removable aiming/lighting device, (and
therefore
with suitably enlarged handgun housing seat) but in fact intended to house the
firearm
even without the device. Such a problem concerns in particular, but not
exclusively, the
shaking movement of the firearm in its seat, and notably the shaking in the
height
direction of the firearm, i.e. the direction that completes a coordinate
system with the
longitudinal direction (corresponding to the axial extension of the barrel of
the firearm)
and the thickness direction (side-side crosswise direction of the shell-shaped
body of
the holster). Concerning this, it is known that even simple oscillations or
slight
movements may bring about dangerous situations, being the potential cause of
accidental firing and/or the loss of the handgun and/or the removal thereof by
third
parties or even producing noises capable of revealing the position of the
officer during
police operations, with serious consequences to the safety of the officer in
question.
Summary of the invention
Indeed, starting from such a problem, and considering the complex design
requirements linked amongst other things to safety (nevertheless to match with
simplicity of use), to rationality of construction, to the need to not wear
out the firearm,
the applicant has devised a catching system having the widest range of
possible uses
(therefore not limited to handgun holsters with aiming device) and indeed
capable of
combining in a surprisingly effective manner the satisfaction of the
aforementioned
requirements, together with other auxiliary ones that are nonetheless
significant.
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
2
This result is achieved with the holster according to the present invention.
Brief description of the drawings
The characteristics and advantages of the handgun holster with catch means in
the trigger guard area according to the present invention will become apparent
from the
following description of embodiments thereof given as an example and not for
limiting
purposes with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
figure 1 is an axonometric view of a longitudinally broken representation of a
holster according to the invention, with a handgun inserted, in a first
embodiment;
figure 2 is an axonometric view of an exploded representation of the holster
of figure
1, without the handgun and with certain parts omitted, among which the main
shell-shaped
body of the holster, for the sake of clarity of illustration;
figure 3 is an axonometric view of a holster with a catching system analogous
to
that of the previous figures but that here shows a lock system provided for in
a second
embodiment of the invention;
figure 4 is an axonometric view of a longitudinally broken representation of
the
holster of figure 3;
¨ figure 5 is a side view of an exploded representation of a holster
conceptually
analogous to those of figures 3 and 4, the representation of which omits
certain parts,
among which the main shell-shaped body, showing the functional core of the
holster in its
interaction with a handgun, also shown in the figure;
figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows VI-
VI of
figure 5;
figure 7 is a side view representation analogous to that of figure 5, but of a
solution according to a third embodiment of the holster according to the
invention;
¨ figure 8 and figure 9 are axonometric views, respectively, of a
handgun catch
device and of the same device mounted on a support guide sliding in the
holster
according to the third embodiment, represented in isolation, the assembly of
figure 9
being represented as a view from a lower side;
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-03
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
3
figure 10 is an axonometric view of an assembly comprising the guide
(represented in phantom lines) and two catch devices according to the two
previous
figures, represented together with a handgun in a catching configuration
thereof, the
remaining parts of the holster, including the main shell-shaped body being,
omitted for
the sake of clarity of illustration;
figure 11 is another axonometric view, from a different angle, of the assembly
of
figure 10, with the guide represented in phantom lines, along with the
handgun, a
locking/unlocking lever being in this case also shown; and
figures 12a and 12b are sectional views of the handgun and parts of the
holster
taken along the plane indicated by the arrows XII of figure 7, certain parts
of the holster
being therefore analogously omitted, among which the main shell-shaped body,
the two
figures respectively referring to an unlocking/release configuration of the
handgun and
to a locking/catching configuration thereof.
Detailed description of the invention
Considering, for the moment, figures 1 and 2, a handgun P is represented along
with a holster 1, the latter - shown only partially - being adapted to house
the handgun
P. Taking the gun as a reference, three mutually perpendicular directions can
be
identified to define a coordinate system; X is the longitudinal direction,
according to
which the axis of the firearm barrel P extends; Y is the height direction (as
seen in a
normal firing configuration with the barrel substantially horizontal, i.e.
parallel to the
ground from which the user stands up), according to which the butt or handgrip
of the
handgun, and the trigger, substantially project with their length; Z, on the
other hand, is
the thickness or crosswise direction, perpendicular to the first two, i.e.
perpendicular to
the side walls of the handgun P.
The holster 1 comprises a shell 10 in which a cavity 11 opens up for housing
the
firearm. The cavity 11 extends along the direction X between the insertion
opening and
a bottom. Every other characteristic and component not expressly described is
in
accordance with the prior art. The cavity, in this embodiment, is of a shape
and size
such as to house the handgun P in a tight-fitting and firm manner
substantially
according to all of the directions when it is associated with a light device
system (or
aiming system) L. It should also be mentioned that the handgun P
conventionally has,
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
4
as well as a stock P1, a muzzle portion P4 (tip portion on which the barrel
opens with
the outlet hole), a trigger P5 protected by a guard P2, and an inner face P3
of the stock
P1 facing the inside of the guard and from which the trigger itself projects.
Now coming more specifically to the aspects of the invention, the holster 1 is
associated with reversible holding and catch means of the handgun P that
operate
inside the cavity 11 by pressing the gun or in any case in engagement with it
so as to
prevent accidental movements. According to the invention, conceptually, such
catch
means make contact with the firearm, for example and preferably but not
necessarily,
at the aforementioned inner face P3 of the trigger guard and are mechanically
driven
by the gun itself, more precisely by the muzzle portion P4, when the firearm
is fully
inserted in the cavity.
In the first embodiment, indeed shown in figures 1 and 2, the catch means
comprise at least one lever, but preferably two levers 12 hinged to the side
walls of the
shell 10 around respective axes Y' for example (but not necessarily)
substantially
parallel to the height direction Y. The hinging point is in the form of
respective hinges
13 positioned in an intermediate region (following the direction X) of the
elongation of
the barrel, the pivotal axis being suitably spaced from the inner face of the
relative side
wall of the shell, so as to allow the rotation of the levers, and central with
respect to the
development of the lever; on each lever the hinges thus define a front arm 12a
that
projects in the direction X towards the bottom tip of the holster, and a rear
arm 12b that
extends towards the butt area, with at least in part a diagonal orientation,
i.e. with a
component along the direction Y so as to reach close to the guard of the
handgun
when the same is inserted.
Obviously, in this regard, the bulk of the levers in relation to the
configuration of
the cavity will be such as to allow the housing of the firearm, with the
remarks that will
be made hereinafter. The front arm 12a ends with a free first end 12c of the
lever, close
to the bottom end of the cavity 11 whereas the rear arm ends with a free
second end of
the lever that is configured with a catch wing 12d, bent towards the inside of
the cavity,
and therefore over the plane XZ so as to make contact, in this case, with the
inner face
P3 of the trigger guard, determining a stop/catching action in the height
direction Y.
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
Each lever is thus pivotable around its own axis Y' starting from a release
position, in which the front arm 12a is spaced from the side wall of the shell
towards the
inside of the cavity (with the first ends 12c mutually converging and adapted
for
mechanically interfering with the handgun in a final segment of the insertion
stroke),
5 and the rear arm with the wing 12d at the second end, instead, is close
to the side wall
of the shell (the two second ends are thus opened apart and divergent in the
direction
of the thickness Z). The other stop position of the rotation of the levers is
a catch
position, in which an opposite arrangement occurs (front arms opened out, rear
arms
spaced from the shell and brought mutually closer). Elastic means such as a
spring
(not shown) tend to keep the levers in the release position in the absence of
actuation,
and thus in particular in an empty holster condition.
When the handgun is inserted in the cavity, fully penetrating into it, a
situation is
reached in which the levers 12, up to that moment in the release position (or,
in other
words, rest position), are actuated by the thrust of the muzzle portion P4 on
the first
ends 12c, said thrust in practice taking place in this case with a
lateral/transversal
component (direction Z) and being actually exerted by the sides of the slide
portion of
the gun, indeed in the proximity of the muzzle. The thrust causes the rotation
of the
levers that with the second ends clutch onto the firearm overcoming the
resistance of
the springs. The wings 12d embrace the inner face of the trigger guard and by
contacting it exert a firm counteraction to shaking, even and particularly in
the height
direction Y. Such a latching action is achieved whether or not the handgun is
equipped
with the aiming device (when the device is mounted, nothing prevents its
accommodation in the relative housing region, because until the firearm is
close to the
insertion end stop the wings remain opened out, not interfering with the
device), so that
the catch means determine a complete and effective improvement as far as
safety is
concerned.
According to this first embodiment, the catch means as such do not oppose the
removal of the firearm, so that the holster will provide for other independent
and
conventional systems for locking undesired extractions. Accordingly, when
going to
remove the firearm, as the motion starts, the lateral thrust exerted by the
muzzle
ceases, and this allows the free rotation of the levers (the first ends coming
mutually
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
6
close to the inside) urged by the springs and with consequent opening out of
the wings,
clearing the passage necessary to extract the handgun.
With reference now to figures 3 to 6, a second embodiment of the invention
provides for a lever or two catch levers analogous to those just described,
and
therefore not described again (the reference numerals are used in conformity
with the
previous embodiment, with the sole addition of a superscript', and make the
drawings
self-explanatory). An additional equipment, however, consists of lock means
for locking
the catch means when they are in the catching position, whereby the extraction
of the
handgun requires the unlocking of an additional safety, i.e. the prior
actuation of the
(un)lock means.
The lock means can advantageously comprise a pivoting member 14 mounted
within the cavity 11, more precisely in the back of the shell (rib
corresponding to the
ridge or upper side of the slide/handgun), in a rotatable manner about an axis
Z'
parallel to the direction Z. The pivoting member 14, shaped and positioned so
as to
allow the passage of the firearm, has one (like in the variant of figures 3
and 4) or two
(like in the variant of figures 5 and 6) projections 14a adapted to become
inserted in
mechanical hindrance between a relative side wall of the shell and the outer
face of the
rear arm 12b' of the relative lever 12', therefore in the proximity of the
second end with
the wing 12d'. By means of such an insertion (in a locking position of the
pivoting
member), and the mechanical hindrance or abutment that derives from it, the
levers are
prevented from opening out at the rear part, as would be required to shift
from the
catch position to the release (or rest) position. In this way, the handgun
cannot be
extracted unless the pivoting member has been pre-emptively rotated towards an
unlocking position that lifts the pivoting member itself, tilting it closer to
the inner face of
the back rib of the shell. The unlocking motion occurs by overcoming the
opposing
force of elastic means, also in this case not shown, which tend to keep the
pivoting
member in the locking position.
The motion of the pivoting member can be driven by a user, with an appropriate
transmission system that permits an actuation through a finger of the hand
intended to
grip the firearm. The prior art suggests various substantially equivalent ways
to attain a
transmission of this type, though in different contexts. One of them, as an
example, is
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
7
the one represented in the figures where the pivoting member 14 has a tooth
14b
projecting obliquely at the outside of the shell to engage with a slot 15a at
a first end of
a rotary lock lever 15. Such a lever is hinged centrally on the outside of a
side wall of
the shell, with a central hinge 15b having a rotation axis H lying on the
plane XY and
typically having a certain angle with respect both to the direction X and to
the direction
Y. At the second end the lever 15, substantially S-shaped to make actuation
easier,
has a recess 15c to promote pressing with the index finger of the hand close
to the
shell.
Such pressure, again counteracted by a spring (not shown), has the effect of
lifting the first end that through the slot 15a pulls the tooth 14b of the
pivoting member,
in turn lifting it and thus clearing the locking effect that blocks the rear
arms of the catch
levers from opening out. As mentioned, the transmission of the drive to the
pivoting
member and consequent motion thereof can exploit systems different from
rotation, for
example with a button to be activated by sliding along the direction X and/or
intended
to interact with fingers other than the index finger.
A solution with analogous safety characteristics is the one illustrated in the
remaining figures 7 to 12b, which will be referred to hereinafter. In this
case, however,
with respect to the previous examples, the embodiment is shown as applied to a
normal holster (i.e. not intended to house handguns with aiming device), and
the
solution differs in the type of catch means with respect to rotary levers.
In fact, the catch means provide for a guide system that is substantially of a
slidable type, and comprises e.g. a guide 2 irreversibly inserted in the
holster cavity
region intended for housing the front part of the handgun. The guide 2 (see
figure 9 in
particular) comprises an elongated ridge wall 21 resulting on the ridge side
of the
handgun from which two flanks 22 project on longitudinally opposite sides,
running
parallel to the direction X; from a front side of the wall, perpendicular to
the longitudinal
direction X, a front wall 23 projects in proximity with the bottom of the
shell. Between
the flanks and the front wall an insertion track 27 for the front part of the
handgun is
defined, with a central opening 21a on the ridge wall 21 allowing for the
sliding
accommodation of the gunsight. In the proximity of the flanks 22, two slits 24
are
formed in the ridge wall 21, running along the aforementioned two longitudinal
sides.
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
8
The slits 24 comprise each a prolonged straight front segment 24a that runs
from the
front wall 23, parallel again with the direction X, and a shorter rear
slanting segment
24b that diverges outwards from such a direction by a certain angle, for
example about
45 .
This catch arrangement, actually a more structured device in this case, are
completed by the actual catch means 3, specifically in the form of articulated
sliders 31
(two in this example, although in figure 9 one is not shown for the sake of
clarity of
illustration), sliding in the guide slits 24 and each formed from two members,
mutually
articulated around an axis Y" parallel to the height direction. The two
members consist
of a front arm 311 and of a rear catch 312 mutually articulated through a
joint 313. The
sliding engagement with the slits 24 is carried out for example by means of
pegs 311a,
312a that project in the direction Y in insertion within the tracks; for a
greater stability
each peg 311a of the arm 311 can also project from both the opposite sides of
the arm,
in order to engage, besides with the slit 24, with an additional guide channel
25 that the
guide 2 provides along the edge of the flanks 22 spaced apart from the ridge
21. Each
rear catch 312 has a catch wing 312b, bent inwards and typically on the plane
XZ so as
to come into contact, also in this case, with the inner face P3 of the trigger
guard
analogously to the wings of the previous embodiments.
The movement of each slider 31 occurs from a rearward, release position (see
figures 9 and 12a) in which the catch 312 is arranged in the slanting rear
segment 24b
of the slit 24, and therefore is slanting and opened out with respect to the
central
longitudinal axis of the guide 2, clearing the central track 27 from any
interference with
the firearm. A catch position is, on the other hand, determined by the forward
movement of the slider towards the front wall 23 along the slits 24, said
forward
movement making the catch 312 enter into the straight front segment 24a of the
slit,
with consequent rotation around the articulation 313 and positioning of the
wing 312b
to interfere with the lane to exert the stop, once again on the face P3 inside
the trigger
guard (see figure 10 that highlights the nature of the motion through the
thick arrows,
and figure 12b).
Figure 10 indeed also clarifies how the movement towards the catch position is
actuated by the same handgun that with its muzzle presses on steps 311b that
the
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
9
arms 311 form in the proximity of the front end. Such a movement towards the
catch
position is preferably elastically opposed by a spring 26 compressed each
between a
tip 311c of the arm 311 and the front wall 23; more precisely in this example
the
springs 4 are housed by cylindrical seats 23a provided by the wall 23.
The catch device according to this embodiment is completed by a lock/unlock
lever 4 (see in particular figures 7, 9, 11) that is used to secure the catch
position and,
when activated to unlock, to allow the return of the slider or sliders 31
towards the
release position by effect of the thrust of the springs 26 (figure 11, also
exhibiting thick
arrows that help understanding the movement).
The lock lever 4 of this example therefore comprises: a central pivot 41
through
which the lever is made rotatably supported by the ridge wall 21 of the guide
2, the
rotation occurring around an articulation axis Y¨ again parallel to the height
direction Y;
a first end with a tooth 42 adapted for snap-engagement (passing through a
window
22a of the relative flank 22) with a seat 311d (figure 8) formed at a suitable
position in
the arm 311; and a second end with an ergonomic shape 43 for the actuation by
pressing with a finger of the user's hand, specifically the index finger
again. A spring,
not shown, urges the automatic positioning of the lever 4 in rotation towards
the lock
position, in the absence of external actuation.
The operation of this embodiment is therefore clearly in accordance with the
same functional pattern as the previous embodiments (lock in the trigger guard
area
actuated by insertion of the handgun through mechanical action by the relative
muzzle
portion), with a constructive arrangement that can be advantageous in certain
circumstances. In particular, the sliding with subsequent rotation/opening at
45 of the
catches 312 allows a greater clearance of the catch wings 312b, actually
permitting the
insertion into the holster of handguns equipped with particularly bulky
aiming/illumination systems. Moreover, the catching system of the handgun in
the
holster can advantageously be entirely housed on a guide 2 making an assembly
that
is autonomously functional and that can thus be inserted inside pre-existing
normal
holsters. not necessarily rigid, given that all the elements of the device are
operatively
autonomous in the assembly itself. In a possible variant, without elastic
means such as
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/IB2017/050589
the springs 26, it can be the same extraction of the handgun that mechanically
urges
the rearward movement towards the release position.
Generally speaking, all of the embodiments described above provide some
important advantages of the invention. The stop/catch action in the guard
area, and in
5
particular according to a preferred solution on the inner face P3, ensures a
firm and
secure catching of the firearm, in particular with respect to shaking in the
direction Y,
the catching being activated with safety and simplicity by the same insertion
of the
handgun, automatically. The catching action, also and in particular depending
on the
specific configuration of the handgun, can also occur, with equivalent
solutions to those
10
mentioned above, on different points of the firearm, for example on the same
guard or
parts of the stock adjacent or close to it, with catching action having
directional
components correspondingly adapted.
Whether the catch means act in rotation, or by siding, the solution is
constructively basic and productively cost-effective, ensuring reliable
operation over
time. The operation is fluid, does not require effort from the user and is
remarkably
unaffected by the protracted use, also considering that it does not include
parts that are
subject to significand bending or in any case deformations. The catch means
even
carry out, before the catching, a guiding and slightly pulling action during
the insertion
of the handgun that facilitates the correct positioning thereof.
The interaction with the handgun is such as not to create rubbing, so that
there
are no significant wearing phenomena, also of the firearm itself which for the
same
reason is substantially exempt from scratches or small abrasions, that
possibly and
only in the worst case can involve only the face of the stock inside the
trigger guard,
and thus an area not exposed to view. Furthermore, in case of use for a
handgun with
an aiming device, the system is not such as to involve risks of having such
device held
and trapped inside the holster when the firearm is extracted, given that the
device does
not even come into contact with the catch means. The variants with the
accessory lock
means add a safety provision that can basically determine an integrated stop
and lock
system of the handgun usable in any type of holster.
If required in order to increase stability and counteract the movement of the
handgun, especially in the direction Y, the holster can be equipped with a pin
projecting
CA 03012032 2018-07-19
WO 2017/134613 PCT/1B2017/050589
11
from the bottom of the cavity to engage with the hole of the barrel, creating
a second
holding point of the firearm. Other criteria that can make one embodiment more
or less
preferable with respect to the other include evaluations of simple productive
or
economic nature, with it being understood that all of the described solutions
are
functional and structurally simple and therefore competitive both in terms of
manufacturing costs and reliability and ease of use. The example solutions
illustrated
are moreover subject to various constructive adaptations that in any case do
not alter
the structural and operative concepts.
In order to manufacture the catch means it is possible to use a wide range of
materials, with reference of course to the specific field of application, like
for example
the self-lubricating polymers (acetyl resin POM) or nylon PA also doped with
glass
fibres, or harmonic steel or die-cast metal.
The present invention has been described up to here with reference to
preferred
embodiments thereof. It should be understood that there can be other
embodiments
that derive from the same inventive core, as encompassed by the scope of
protection
of the claims given below.
